Knife/machete project! What design do you prefer?

[Samon]

I have a very large Martindale machete that I recieved this morning from a trade and figured it was a bit big for garden/camping use so I've decided to draw up a few designs that I could cut out/into it.

As it seems to be with all Martindale machetes the fit and finish is very poor but the steel is pretty good so I have no issues with cutting this one up to make it more usable! That and I love to recycle old stuff!

This is the machete as it is..

So after a few ideas I came up with what I consider the best options for it. The first idea is to shape it into a bolo style as I don't have one anymore.

A picture of it next to the Martindale no2 golok to help you get the idea of size and what it'll look like after it's chopped down..

I'll also keep but reshape the handle if I choose this idea.

And the second idea I chose from was to make a type of camp knife/chopper and with the blade being so large there is enough metal to do both. I've taped and drawn on the lines to show the shape of the knives.

And for those pictures..

With the knife design coming from the original handle I'll reshape and refine the handle and with the second one, the big fat chopper I intend on cutting out the shape of a handle and fitting new wooden scales to it!

I can't really decide on what to do with it.. Bolo or camp knives?

What do you guys think?

Thanks for looking!

 

[Shewie]

Seems a bit of a shame to hack it up

 

[Retired Member southey]

You may have problems in this area as the spine may be spring tempered to support the harder cutting edge.

View attachment 7585

 

[robevs73]

Bolo. Your going to get yourself in trouble making the two camp knives and the one in the front will end up in the bin! Trust me.

 

[Samon]

Seems a bit of a shame to hack it up

it won't get much use in its original form, so this seems mroe benficial to me.

You may have problems in this area as the spine may be spring tempered to support the harder cutting edge.

View attachment 7585

what kind of problems? it being really soft?

 

[Pict]

I agree, the bolo looks like the better project.

 

[Samon]

so everyone for the bolo so far? noone like the camp knives?

 

[Retired Member southey]

it won't get much use in its original form, so this seems mroe benficial to me.



what kind of problems? it being really soft?

yeah kind of, if you think how you use the knife as it is, big chopping, slashing, whipping moves if it was all as hard as the edge with the length it is you would probably bend it and snapp it in no time, where as with the spine being softER than the cutting edge it gives it a springy support to add resilience to the blade and give it overall strength. run a file down the spine you will most likely be able to mark it quite easily, then do the same with the cutting edge and you will see and feel the difference.

 

[Samon]

Ah ok, thanks for the advice mate! it makes sense so I guess Bolo it is!

Thanks for the input fellas!

 

[Rod Paradise]

Might be late to chip in my ha'pennorth - but could you not make the bolo about 2 to 3 inches shorter & leave enough of the point on a curve to make a nice ulu out of it?

 

[789987]

Seems a bit of a shame to hack it up

what he said

 

[BillyBlade]

what he said

And another. Martindale kit is alright, so instead of destroying it, why not get it to someone who'd make use of it and then start from a better source to make a project.

FWIW I run a Condor Golok, and while it's not the prettiest nor one of the more expensive knives out there that some get all gooey eyed over, bloody hell, out in the field it just gets the job DONE.

 

[Samon]

I don't have alot of use for a tool of this size.

If anyone wants to swap it with me let me know as I haven't done anything to it yet.